Biology (MindTap Course List)
Biology (MindTap Course List)
11th Edition
ISBN: 9781337392938
Author: Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. Berg
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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Chapter 3, Problem 1TYU
Summary Introduction

Introduction: Carbon occurs widely in nature in both inorganic and organic forms. Organic compounds are chemical compounds, where carbon atoms form the backbone of the molecule by bonding covalently. The inorganic forms of carbon are very simple carbon compound that are not bonded either to hydrogen or another carbon.

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Answer to Problem 1TYU

Correct answer: Carbon is particularly well suited to be the backbone of organic molecules because it can bond to atoms of a large number of other elements. Hence, the correct answer is option (d).

Explanation of Solution

Reasons for the correct answer:

Option (d) is given as “it can bond to atoms of a large number of other elements”.

Carbon serves as the backbone of large molecules as carbon–carbon bonds are strong as compared to other bonds. Carbon atoms form straight or branched chains or rings. A greater number of covalent bonds with different atoms is formed by carbon atoms than the other atoms.

Hence, the correct answer is option (d).

Reasons for incorrect answers:

Option (a) is given as “it can form both covalent bonds and ionic bonds”.

Carbon atoms can only form covalent bonds not ionic bonds. Hence, option (a) is incorrect.

Option (b) is given as “its covalent bonds are very irregularly arranged in three-dimensional space”. Covalent bonds of carbon are accurately arranged in 3-D space. Hence, option (b) is incorrect.

Option (c) is given as “its covalent bonds are the strongest chemical bonds known”.

Carbon covalent bonds are the strongest chemical bonds, but there are other elements whose covalent bonds are stronger than carbon. For example, carbon–hydrogen sigma covalent bonds are stronger than carbon–carbon covalent bonds. Hence, option (c) is incorrect.

Option (e) is given as “all the bonds it forms are polar”.

Carbon can also form non-polar bonds. Hence, option (e) is incorrect.

Hence, options (a), (b), (c), and (e) are incorrect.

Conclusion

Carbon serves as the backbone of organic molecules because it can bond to atoms of a large number of other elements.

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Chapter 3 Solutions

Biology (MindTap Course List)

Ch. 3.2 - VISUALIZE Draw simple sketches comparing the...Ch. 3.3 - Distinguish among fats, phospholipids, and...Ch. 3.3 - Prob. 1CCh. 3.3 - Explain why the structure of phospholipids enables...Ch. 3.4 - Give an overall description of the structure and...Ch. 3.4 - Prob. 8LOCh. 3.4 - Distinguish among the four levels of organization...Ch. 3.4 - Prob. 1CCh. 3.4 - Prob. 2CCh. 3.5 - Describe the components of a nucleotide. Name some...Ch. 3.5 - VISUALIZE Sketch a pyrimidine nucleotide subunit...Ch. 3.6 - Compare the functions and chemical compositions of...Ch. 3.6 - How can you distinguish a pentose sugar from a...Ch. 3 - Prob. 1TYUCh. 3 - VISUALIZE The structures depicted are (a)...Ch. 3 - Prob. 3TYUCh. 3 - The synthetic process by which monomers are...Ch. 3 - A monosaccharide designated as an aldehyde sugar...Ch. 3 - Structural polysaccharides typically (a) have...Ch. 3 - Saturated fatty acids are so named because they...Ch. 3 - Fatty acids in phospholipids and triacylglycerols...Ch. 3 - Which of the following levels of protein structure...Ch. 3 - Which of the following associations between R...Ch. 3 - Each phosphodiester linkage in DNA or RNA includes...Ch. 3 - PREDICT Do any of the amino acid side groups shown...Ch. 3 - PREDICT Like oxygen, sulfur forms two covalent...Ch. 3 - Hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions are...Ch. 3 - EVOLUTION LINK In what ways are all species alike...Ch. 3 - EVOLUTION LINK The total number of possible amino...Ch. 3 - EVOLUTION LINK Each amino acid could potentially...
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